This seems to me rather ridiculous - in negotiations there has to be give and take.

The Republicans' core message in the election was the need for drastic spending cuts. They won not a single cut. Not even a tiny, symbolic one.

Of course that battle has just been shoved two months' down the road. Perhaps then it will be their turn to win a famous victory, and so even the score card.

But the president's tone after the vote was not conciliatory. He was almost cocky. This man has had it with "Kum ba yah". He may leave that to the old pals, Biden and McConnell, in future.

He warned Republicans spending cuts couldn't be at the expense of (take a deep breath to read the whole shopping list) investment in infrastructure, investment in jobs, education, training, research or new technology.

It had to be "balanced" - code for "if our people take a hit, yours will pay more taxes".

He gave a stern warning that they were not to play games with the debt limit - America would pay the bills it had racked up.

He told them there had to be less drama. He said that all this couldn't be at the expense of plans for immigration reform, gun laws or legislation on climate change. This could be bravado. It could be dangerous over confidence.

But it does suggest a man with a mandate, with an agenda and the stomach to fight for it.